Exercising device

ABSTRACT

An exercising device which comprises a web which can be draped over a limb which is to be exercised. The device includes pouches in which circular weight plates can be received. The pouches are open at one end so that the weights can be interchanged.

United States Patent [191 Boyle [45] Oct. 7, 1975 1 1 EXERCISING DEVICE[76] Inventor: John J. Boyle, 208 Jobs Lane,

Williamstown, NJ. 08094 [22} Filed: Oct. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,870

[52] U.S. Cl. 272/57 R; 272/80; 272/84 [51] Int. Cl. A63B 23/04 [58]Field of Search 272/57 R, 57 D, 67, 80, 272/81, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,609 6/1884 Wood 224/431,047,212 12/1912 Hamilton 272/57 R 2,408,160 9/1946 Brunner 272/57 D3,278,184 10/1966 Rosenbaum .4, 272/57 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS830,606 1960 United Kingdom 272/80 Primary Examiner-RichardC. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or F irm- Se'idel,Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT An exercising device which comprises aweb which can be draped over a limb which is to be exercised. The deviceincludes pouches in which circular weight plates can be received. Thepouches are open at one end so that the weights can be interchanged.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1975 t ct. 7, ten

f 2 0 Sheet 1 Sheet 2 of 2 U8. Patent Oct. 7,1975

, EXERCISING DEVICE This invention relates to exercising devices andmore particularly to an exercising device of the type which may bedraped over the limb which is to be exercised.

Post-operative convalescences after orthopedic hip, knee or other jointsurgery requires that the patient exercise in order to prevent themuscles from atrophying. Typically, this is accomplished by exercisingwith weights. Typically sand bagsare used. Other exercising devicespresently available have means for providing variable weights. However,the weights must be specially designed so that they can be received inreceptacles in the device. A

Furthermore, with exercising devices used heretofore there is a realdanger that the device can slide down the limb beingexercisedtoinjuretthe patient.

The device disclosed herein obviates these disadvantages by providingpouches in which ordinary bar bell weights can be supported. 1

Furthermore, a portion of the device is comprised of frictional materialso that the likelihood that the exercising device can slide along thelimb being exercised is substantially reduced. Thus, thepersonexercising can use the device without fear of damage to the head orgroin.

Still further, reinforcing and padding means are provided on each of thepouches so that the device cannot damage surfaces; 5 a u Generally, theinvention relates tozan exercising device comprising first and secondpouches in which weights'can be received and a web interconnecting thepouches..A flexible member which is connected to the web can be coupledto each of the pouches to retain the weights therein. Means are providedon the outer portion of each pouchifor reinforcing them and preventingthe pouches from marring surfaces..."

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawing two presently preferred embodiments; it being understood,however, that this; invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is. a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance withone presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the exercising device illustrated in FIG. 1. i

FIG. 3 is-a top plan view of the exercising device illustrated inFIG. 1. r Y

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan viewof the exercising device illustrated'in FIG.3. a

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the exercisingdevice.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description of theinvention, one embodiment of an exercising device is illustrated inFIGS. 1-4. It comprises a web 12 with pouches l4 and 16 at each end.

Weights such as ordinary bar bell plates 20 may be received in andsupported within the pouches l4 and 16.

The web 12 may be comprised of a suitable flexible material such asnylon or the like. It may have a generally hour glass shape withenlarged end portions 22 and a reduced intermediate portion 24 which isadapted to lie across the limb of a person.

Preferably, the web is made of frictional material or is treated in sucha way to increase friction between it cannot open the seams.

. snaps.

material The pouches are definedby means 26 and 28 which may be madefrom the same material that the web is made from. Preferably, each ofthe means 26 and 28 is stitched to the enlarged p0rtions2-2 of web 12about their peripheries so that the pouc'hes are formed with openings 30and 32.

A Web'36 of reinforcing material 22 is stitched to the bottom of eachpouch 14 and 16. The purpose of the web is to reinforce the bottom ofeach pouch so that even though the device is'used repeatedly, theweights Preferably, the web is made from a woven material or of someother material having a degree of softness so thatwhen the device isloweredonto a table orother surface a sufficient amount of padding isprovided to prevent it from marring the surface. I i

The weights are retained within their respective pouches by a suitableclosure. As illustrated in the drawing,'theclosures may comprise anelongated flexible member 40. Preferably, the member is a woven belt. Atits mid portion it is connected to the intermediate portion 24 of web 12by stitching 42. The stitching firmly secures the flexible member 40 tothe device. Additionally, the extension of the stitching 42 through theback surface 44 of the web 12 further promotes the frictionalcapabilitiesof the device when it is draped over a limb. v

The free ends of the elongated flexible member 26 may be providedwithsuitable fasteners s'uch as snaps 48.,Thes e snaps are engaged bycorresponding snaps 50 which are adjacent the opening in each pouch l4and 16.

The .use of snaps permits the elongated flexible member to be quicklyremoved from over the pouches l4 and l6 so that the weights therein canbe readily exchanged.

such as buckles ,or the like could be used in lieu of the FIG. 3illustrates an embodiment of the invention 10' which is substantiallythe same as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, each of theelements illustrated in FIG. 5 which are the same as those elementsillustrated in FIG. .1. are identified by the same numeral, however,that numeral is followed by a prime. r i

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a strap54 having its ends 56 connected to web 12'. Ends 56 may be connecteddirectly to flexible member 40 by stitching. The strap 54 is arranged sothat it extends laterally of the exercising device so that the loop 52formed therein can be hooked over the heel or hand of the personperforming the exercise.

In order to use the exercising device, the patient selects suitableweights. Any convenient weight such as those which accompany bar bellsare particularly suitable. Thus, bar bell weights are wafer shaped sothat they slip very conveniently into the pouches l4 and 16. Theelongated flexible member 40 is closed over the weights and thefasteners 48 and 50 are secured. The device may then be draped over theankle, or the wrist or the knee. Exercising is accomplished by raisingand lowering the limb a number of times. The likelihood of the devicesliding along the limb is substantially reduced by virtue of the factthat the back of the web is made of a frictional material and also bythe frictional force generated by the stitching 42.

As strength returns to the limb being exercised, the weights can beremoved from the pouches l4 and 16 and weights of additional size placedtherein.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 provides asafeguard in the form of strap 54 to assure that when the weights areraised high above the head or the body and there is a likelihood thatsome slippage of the device will occur that a proper restraint is inplace.

In each embodiment of the invention, the pouches can be designed so thatthey fit the contours of the weights being used. However, it ispreferred that the sides of the pouches be rounded and their bottom berounded in order to provide a seat for the weights.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments thereof it is apparent that other forms and embodiments willbe obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing. Thus,the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoingdescription, but rather, only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

I claim: I

1. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprisingfirst and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible webinterconnecting said pouches, each of said pouches having at least oneopening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facingrelation to each other when lying flat and so that the openings areaccessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directlyover a limb, means including at least one flexible member connected tosaid web and having a pair of fasteners, a complementary fastenercoupled to each pouch adjacent the opening therein so that said firstmentioned fasteners may be coupled to a complementary fastener forremovably retaining a weight in said pouches, a central portion of saidweb being narrower than the portion of said web adjacent said pouches,each of said pouches extending over substantiallythe entire width of thedevice and having a depth substantially equal to the width, each pouchhaving a third dimension which is small relative to said width and depthso as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate, andmeans on the outer portions of each pouch remote from its opening forreinforcing said pouches and preventing said pouches from marringsurfaces.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said web has thegeneral shape of an hour glass with the enlarged portion thereof formingone side of each pouch and the reduced portion being adapted to lie on alimb which is being exercised, and a portion of the surface of said webis provided with means for increasing frictional engagement withrthelimb so that it will not slip while exercising.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of saidpouches is defined by a portion of said web and a facing member, andsaid facing member is con- 'nected to said web by stitching,

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible member issufficiently long so as to extend from each complementary fastener tothe other, said flexible member overlying said web, an intermediateportion of said flexible member being secured to said web, whereby eachof the free end portions of said flexible member cooperate with one ofthe pouches and overlie its associated pouch opening for removablyretaining weights in the pouches. 1

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcingmeans comprises strips of woven material that are stitched to saidpouches.

6. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 including a weight in eachof said pouches.

7. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sides of saidpouches are generally parallel and their bottoms are round.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 including a strap for extendingaround an ankle, said strap having its free ends connected to said webat a location on the web between the openings to said pouches.

9. An exercising device as defined in claim 8 wherein said strap is madeof woven material and the ends of said strap are stitched to anintermediate portion of said flexible member.

10. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprisingfirst and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible webinterconnecting said pouches, a central portion of said webbeing'narrower than said pouches, each of said pouches having at leastone opening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generallyfacing relation to each other when lying flat and so that the openingsare accessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directlyover a limb, each opening extending across substantially the entirewidth of its pouch, each of said pouches extending over substantiallythe entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal tothe width, each pouch having'a third dimension which is small relativeto said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving acircular weight plate, each pouch having generally straight sidesconnected to a rounded bottom.

1. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprisingfirst and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible webinterconnecting said pouches, each of said pouches having at least oneopening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facingrelation to each other when lying flat and so that the openings areaccessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directlyover a limb, means including at least one flexible member connected tosaid web and having a pair of fasteners, a complementary fastenercoupled to each pouch adjacent the opening therein so that said firstmentioned fasteners may be coupled to a complementary fastener forremovably retaining a weight in said pouches, a central portion of saidweb being narrower than the portion of said web adjacent said pouches,each of said pouches extending over substantially the entire width ofthe device and having a depth substantially equal to the width, eachpouch having a third dimension which is small relative to said width anddepth so as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate,and means on the outer portions of each pouch remote from its openingfor reinforcing said pouches and preventing said pouches from marringsurfaces.
 2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said webhas the general shape of an hour glass with the enlarged portion thereofforming one side of each pouch and the reduced portion being adapted tolie on a limb which is being exercised, and a portion of the surface ofsaid web is provided with means for increasing frictional engagementwith the limb so that it will not slip while exercising.
 3. Anexercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pouches isdefined by a portion of said web and a facing member, and said facingmember is connected to said web by stitching.
 4. A device in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said flexible member is sufficiently long so as toextend from each complementary fastener to the other, said flexiblemember overlying said web, an intermediate portion of said flexiblemember being secured to said web, whereby each of the free end portionsof said flexible member cooperate with one of the pouches and overlieits associated pouch opening for removably retaining weights in thepouches.
 5. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidreinforcing means comprises strips of woven material that are stitchedto said pouches.
 6. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 includinga weight in each of said pouches.
 7. An exercising device as defined inclaim 1 wherein the sides of said pouches are generally parallel andtheir bottoms are round.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 1including a strap for extending around an ankle, said strap having itsfree ends connected to said web at a location on the web between theopenings to said pouches.
 9. An exercising device as defined in claim 8wherein said strap is made of woven material and the ends of said strapare stitched to an intermediate portion of said flexible member.
 10. Anexercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprising first andsecond flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible webinterconnecting said pouches, a central portion of said web beingnarrower than said pouches, each of said pouches having at least oneopening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facingrelation to each other when lYing flat and so that the openings areaccessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directlyover a limb, each opening extending across substantially the entirewidth of its pouch, each of said pouches extending over substantiallythe entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal tothe width, each pouch having a third dimension which is small relativeto said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving acircular weight plate, each pouch having generally straight sidesconnected to a rounded bottom.